“For many of us, one day can impact a lifetime.” Andy Haynes, New England Collegiate Strategist, spoke these words to a diverse crowd of university students, young adults, and leaders on the final morning of the 2013 Fusion Fall Conference. His statement highlights the reality that seemingly ordinary moments can ultimately alter the direction and focus of our lives.

Unique Emphasis

Trips and retreats such as Fusion Fall Conference serve as catalytic moments for the student and young adult, providing a fun and refreshing opportunity to step away from the everyday, grow in great relationships, and engage with the truth of God’s word byuniquely emphasizing three core areas:God’s vision for the nations, strong Biblical teaching, and focused application.Fusion Fall Conference is an annual event held on the south shore of Boston in Hull, Massachusetts, and sponsored by the Baptist Convention of New England Collegiate Team. Students, leaders, and young adults from campuses and churches throughout New England and Canada gather together for a weekend of powerful musical worship, intentional prayer and thoughtful teaching from the Scriptures. The weekend is characterized by a significant missional focus in addition to the central theme. The need for the gospel to go to the nations and for believers to give in support of the work God is accomplishing is woven into the fabric of the weekend. This year students and young adults learned about and gave in support of a OneLife project that fights and advocates for dignity and value of trafficked women in the slums of Asia. They also had the chance to explore additional missions projects available to them through the International Mission Board.

Compelled & Challenged

The conference itself was entitled “Multiply: Along the Way Discipleship and the Great Commission”, and featured author and speaker, Dr. Chuck Lawless, as well as the musical group, Love Remains. Over the course of the weekend, Dr. Lawless delivered a compelling and thought-provoking challenge to refocus the attention of the skeptic, new believer, and long-time follower on the vital need to know Christ and invest in meaningful relationships with others to build maturing disciples of Christ. Our lives are to be about investing in and pointing others to Jesus, the Son of God, as we are growing to be more like Him ourselves. Walking through the gospel of Mark in three sessions, Dr Lawless taught that discipleship begins with wonder and amazement at Jesus, naturally producing a desire to proclaim Him to others. It continues when nobodies multiply other nobodies, pointing others away from themselves and to the One deserving of all glory and honor. Discipleship even perseveres in the face of the imperfect struggles of Christ’s disciples, with Jesus continuing to love, teach and serve in spite of their disobedience and forgetful reluctance to trust Him. The examples Jesus demonstrates in Mark are brilliant examples to us today of the framework for investing in the lives of others and advancing God’s kingdom.Time and again when talking with students, discussion groups are often the most enjoyed part of the weekend. These groups mix in individuals from various schools and churches, providing the chance to get to know new friends and apply the profound truths of Scripture just proclaimed during the teaching session. Fusion Fall Conference 2013 was great success, in many different ways. Please remember to pray for the university students and young adults of New England to know Christ and make disciples, particularly asking for open hearts of obedience and faith for the seeds of the gospel planted during this influential weekend.